REVEALED: Scandal of how 1,000 elderly 'die of thirst in care homes'

MORE than 1,000 care home ­residents have died of thirst over the past decade, it was reported last night.

More than 1,000 care home residents have died of thirst over the past decade [PIC POSED BY MODEL/GETTY]

Being left without water and becoming severely dehydrated was linked to 1,158 deaths of ­elderly and vulnerable patients between 2003 and 2012.

Dr Alison Cook, from the ­Alzheimer’s Society, said: “How can we call ourselves civilised when people are left to starve or die of thirst? It is an utter disgrace that they are ever left without the most basic care.”

Some 318 care home residents died from starvation or when severely malnourished over the same period, and 2,815 deaths were related to bed sores.

The shock figures about the poor treatment of care home ­residents in England and Wales were released under Freedom of Information laws from the Office for National Statistics.

The real figures are expected to be far higher because residents who died while in hospital were not included.

Dot Gibson, General secretary of the National Pensioners ­Convention, called for an urgent overhaul in social care.

She said: “It is not good enough for ministers or the care regulator to talk about making improvements by 2015 when, in the ­meantime, older people are dying from neglect.

“The public would be outraged if animals were treated in the same way – we need to show the same compassion when it comes to ­caring for our elderly loved ones.”

Last year the Care Quality Commission issued 818 warning notices to adult social care services in England – around two thirds more than the preceding year.

Norman Lamb, the care and support minister, said the deaths from thirst and starvation were “entirely unacceptable”.